Children hurt in coach park brawl after Middlesbrough v Sheffield United match

Police said 200 football fans fought in a coach park outside the Riverside stadium following the Middlesbrough v Sheffield United Championship game.

Five people have been arrested on suspicion of a number of offences and are in police custody.

Scuffles began in stoppage time when some visiting fans invaded the pitch, thinking their team had equalised only for the goal to be ruled out.

Those arrested are now in custody, with Cleveland Police saying they expect to make more arrests as the investigation continues.

"We will absolutely not tolerate violence of this nature and we will work to identify the offenders and bring them to justice", Assistant Chief Constable Jason Harwin said, as quoted by Sky News.

Middlesbrough won the game, their first home match since relegation last season, 1-0 thanks to Rudy Gestede's first half header.

"It's terrifying for children to witness such violence, or be innocently embroiled in it as their parents frantically try to keep them safe".

Interestingly, in March, a Russian MP who approved the violent behaviour of his country's football supporters at the European Championships in France past year had suggested that hooliganism could be legalised and turned into a spectator sport. Violence continued outside the ground, leaving children "terrified".